Loose-leaf-binding device.



E. A. TRUSSELL.

LOOSE LEAF BINDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-16,1910.

1,1 3.269. Patented May 4, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 4 7 1 4 WITNESSES: 5 9 INVENTOR Eqq y .Truss e11,

yl ilgbm m ATTORNEYS E. A.'TRUSSELL.

LOOSE LEAF BINDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION HLED'SEPT. 16, 1910.

Patented May 4, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR .Tnrssal I,

BY aw y 33W ATTORNEYS WITNESSES:

EMORY .A. TRUSSELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LoosE-LEAF- mnmG DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May a, 1915.

Application filed September 16, .1910. Serial No. 582,315.

new and useful Improvements in Loose-- Leaf-Binding Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference. being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. i

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in a, loose or separable leaf binding device; andv the invention .refers more particularly, to a novel construction of binding device adapted to retain in their bound relation a plurality of separable leaves, the same being so arranged and secured by said novel binding device that each leaf is held in its bound relation independently of its fellows, and may be inserted in any desired place with reference to its position in the book, or removed from the book without removing or disturbing any of the other leaves bound in company therewith.

The present invention has for its principal object to providea simple, neat and practical binding device in which all movable partsare obviated, the leaf carrying or binding elements of which are in the form of rigid or permanent ring-shaped members adapted to be engaged by slotted cut-out portions or perforations in the leaf to be bound, in such a mannerthat each leaf may be quickly and easily connected or disconnectedfrom said binding elements by a very simplemanipulation of the leaf itself.

The advantages of my novel constructionof binding device, which is permanent'and .practically impossible to disarrange or get out of order, will readily commend it when compared with old style binding devices heretofore in use, in which the bindingelements are movable or require manipulation to connect or disconnect a leaf, hence likely to becomeeasily disarranged or out of order,

- besides being unsatisfactory and troublesome in their practical operation.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a binding. device in which the binding-elements are reduced to a minimum of parts, whereby the same are durably and neatly arranged in relation to the cover portions of said binding device to render a simple and light construction of pleasing appearance.

Qther objects of the present invention not at-this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following. detailed description of my present in ventlon. v I

With the various objects of my present invention in view thesame 'consists in the novel construction of binding device hereinafter set forth; and, furthermore, this inventlon consistsi n the novel arrangements and combinations of the various parts, as

well as in the details of the construction thereof, all of which will be, hereinafter more fully described, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim which are appended to and which form an essential part of this specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my novel loose or separable leaf binding device embodying the principles of my present invention, the same being illustrated in its opened condition with a plurality of loose or separable leaves arranged in their bound relation therewith. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of'the same' taken on line 22 in said Fig. 1, the said loose or separable leaves being removed or disconnected therefrom. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the same taken on line 33 in said Fig. l, the said loose or separable leaves being removed or disconnected .from the binding element thereof. Fig. .4 is a perspective view of my novel construction of binding element, and Fig. 5 is a perspective, view of a novel construction of bindin nstrip', used in connection with said bind ng element, both of said parts being removed from their relation with each other and with the. cover portion of said binding device. Fig. 6 is a perspectiveview of a slightly modified said view showing more particularly the preferable construction or shape of its out out portions or: perforat ons which engage said binding element.

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings the reference-character 1 indicates the complete binding device embodying the principles of my present invention, the same comprising a body-portion, forming the back-portion 2 and the cover-portions 3, of any desirable material. Said body-portion may be provided with a covering or binding l of leather, cloth or any other desirable material.

The reference-character 5 indicates a binding-strip, the same being adapted to be embedded in the binding of said body-portion in any desirable manner, preferably, however, by inserting the same between said back-portion 2 and said covering or binding 4. Said binding strip 5 is provided with suitably disposed pairs of upwardly and outwardly extending tongues or lugs 6, which pass through suitable openings or cut-out portions 7 1n said back-portion 2 so that their free ends present themselves above the surface of said back-portion 2. The said tongues or lugs 6, are preferably struck up out of the body of said binding strip 5 so as to form an integral part thereof, and serve as a means for connecting or securing in operative-position with relation to said back-portion 2 a binding element in the manner presently to be described. It will be clearly understood, however, that I do not limit myself to the particular form of tongue or lug shown and described, since an equivalent fastening means may be provided by headed rivets arranged with said binding strip 5, or the ends of said bindingstrip may be turned up and over to engage said' binding element, or other equivalent means for securely connecting a binding element to said binding strip.

The binding element above referred to comprises a pair of longitudinally extending parallel strips or ring carrying members 8, the inner or oppositely facing edges of which are-provided with'notches or cutout portions 9 which spring over or engage said tongues or lugs 6 to permanently connect said strips or ring carrying members 8 with said binding-strip 5. Integrally connected with the outer edges of said strips or ring carrying members 8, and bridging over from one to the other, areupwardly projecting ring-portions 10, the same forming a rigid continuous or closed ring provided on their inner sides or circumferences with a substantially flat bearing surface adapted to receive and retain in their bound relation the spring lugs formed by the notches of loose or separable leaves to be subsequently described. The said ring-portions 10, as formed in connection with said strips or ring'carrying members -8, provide a sufiicient spring-action to permit the latter 9 engage the proper tongues or lugs 6, and.

when so assembled said spring action is sufficient to retain said strips or ring-carrying members-8 in such assembled or connected relation with said binding strip 5.

When the above described parts are thus assembled and arranged the binding device is ready for the reception of loose leaves or sheets 11 adapted to be bound together thereby. Each loose leaf or sheet 11 is provided upon one of its marginal edges 12 with a plurality of perforations or holes 13, prefcrably rectangular in form. Extending from each of said perforations or holes 13 to the adjacent edge of said leaf or sheet are slots or cut-out portions 14, so arranged as to form between the ends of each of said perforations or holes 13 and the adjacent edge of the leaf or sheet, a pair of oppositely extending spring lugs or tabs 15, the sameobeing of a springy or resilient nature due to the resilience of the paper stock of which the leaf or sheet is formed. To connect a loose leaf or sheet thus formed with said ring-portions 10, the marginal edge 12 of said leaf or sheet is laid against said upwardly projecting ring portions 10 so that the slots or cut-out portions 14 register therewith, a slight downward pressure upon said marginal edge 12 is sufficient to cause the said lugs or tabs 15 to spring over said the said perforations or holes 13, the said lugs or tabs resuming their normal position engage said substantially flat bearing surfaces of said ring-members 10, and thus serve to retain said loose leaf or sheet in its bound relation with said ring-members 10, under all ordinary conditions of use, as will be clearly apparent from an examination of ring-portions 10 and allow the same to enter Fig. ,1 of said drawings. To remove said loose leaf or sheet 11 the same may be grasped at or near one end of .its marginal edge 12 and by an upward pull or lift in a line at right angles to the plane of the leaf or sheet, the said lugs or tabs 15 maybe i therewith, and permit the same to be easily 1 turned page by page, and furthermore allow the book to be open with the leaves flat no matter at what point the book is opened due to the fact that each leaf or sheet is capable of afree sliding movement on said ring-members 10. It will also be readily seen that a single leaf may be removed from any. part" of the book, and inserted in any other positionin the book without disturbing or removing from said ring-members 10 any of the other leaves or sheets.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 6 of the drawings, there is illustrated therein a slightly modified construction of binding element embodying the principles of my invention. In this construction I do not need to make use of the separable binding strip 5 but provide a combined binding strip and ring carrying member 16 of preferably conmay be embedded in the book binding sub-- stantially in the manner of so doing described in connection with said binding strip 5. This construction, as is apparent,-is extremely simple and is particularly adapted for use in small loose leaf books of all characters.

I am aware that changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the devices and'parts, as well as in the details of the construction ofthe same, as described in the accompanying specification, without departing from the scope of my present invention as defined in the claims which are appended to the said specification.

' Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the dev1ces and parts asset forth in the foregoing specification, nordo .I confine myself to the-exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the a'ccompanymg rawmgs. v

1. In loose leaf binding devices the combination with back and cover-portions of a embedded insaid binding of a binding-stri back-portion of said bin ing, tiring-carry inglmember compris' ia-pair'of longitudi-- y extending para elstrips, a plurality of upwardly extending r'igid and continuous ring-portions connected by their respective *ends with the outermargmal edges -of said parallel strips, andfmeans for connecting said rmg-carrying member with said bind-' t ing-strip, substantially-as andfor theipurposes set forth. a K 2 2, In loose leaftbinding device's the comf' ing member comprisin bination with back and cover-portions of a binding, of a binding-strip embedded in said back-portion of said binding, a ring-carrya pair of longitudinally extending'paral el strips, a plurality of upwardly extending rigid and continuous ring-portions connected by their respective ends with the outer marginal edges of said parallel strips, and means for connecting said ring-carrying member with said binding strip,'comprising pairs of upwardly extending lugs or tongues connected with said binding strip and adapted to engage the inner marginal edges of said parallel strips of said r ring-carrying member, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

3. In loose leaf binding devices the combination with back and cover-portions of a binding, of a binding-strip embedded in said back-portion of said binding, a ring carrying member comprising a pair of longitudinally extending parallel strips, a plurality of upwardly extending rigid and continuous ring-portions connected by their respective ends with the outer marginal edges of said parallel strips, and means for connecting said ring-carrying member with said binding strip, comprising pairs of upwardly extendinglugs or tongues'connected with said binding strip and adapted to engage the inner marginal edges of said parallel strips of said ring-carrying member, said parallel strips of said ring carrying member being provided with notches or cut-out portions in their inner marginal edges adapted to receive said lugs or tongues of said binding strip, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. I

4. In loose leaf binding devices the combination with back and cover-portions of a binding-strip embedded in said back-portion ofsaid binding, a ring-carrying member, means for connecting said ring carrying member with said binding-strip, and a plurality of upwardly projecting rigid and continuous ring-portions connected with said ring-carrying member, said ringportions being provided with substantially flat hearing surfaces on their inner sides, said bearing-surfaces of said ring-portions being adapted to be engaged by loose or separable leaves, aplurality of loose leaves or sheets adapted to be connected with said ring-portions, each'of said loose leaves or sheets being provided adjacent to one of its marginal edges with a plurality of perforations or "holes having slots or cut-out portions extending therefrom to the adjacent marginal edge of said leaf or sheet to form pairs of oppositely extending spring lugs or tabs, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In loose leaf binding devices, the combination with back and cover-portions of a .of a b inding-strip embedded in said iae vback-portion of said binding, a ring carrying member comprising a pair of longitudinally extending parallel strips, a plurality of upwardly extending rigid and continuous ring-portions connected by their respective ends with the outer marginal edges of said parallel strips, and means for connecting said ring-carrying member with said binding strip, comprising pairs of upwardly extending lugs or tongues connected with said binding strip and adapted to engage the inner marginal edges of said parallel strips of said ring-carrying member, said parallel strips of said ring carrying member being provided with notches or cut-out portions in their inner marginal edges adapted to receive said lugs or tongues of said binding strip, a plurality -of loose leaves or sheets adapted to be connected with said ringportions, each of said loose leaves or sheets being provided adjacent to one of its marginal edges with a plurality of perforations or holes having slots or cut-out portions extending therefrom to the adjacent marginal edge of said leaf or sheet, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In loose leaf binding devices the combination withback and cover-portions of a binding, of a ring-carrying member comprising a pair of parallel strips, means connected with said binding for engaging said.

parallel strips of said ring-carrying member, and a plurality of upwardly projecting rigid and continuous ring-portions connected with said parallel strips forming said ring-carrying member, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of September, 1910.

V EMORY A. TRUSSELL. Witnesses:

GEORGE D. RICHARDS,

MAYBELLE McADoo. 

